10 Things You'll Only Find in Lakeland, Florida

Lakeland is a thriving community with a diverse culture, a lively downtown, and a variety of attractions and events that appeal to visitors of all ages and interests. On this episode, I’m running down 10 things you’ll only find in Lakeland, Florida, and why they make this city so unique and special.
#Lakeland
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[@francescaraballo2248]

I live in Lakeland! I'm glad you like the city!

[@ChadGallivanter]

The best!

[@floridaredneck]

Howdy neighbor!

[@mmorin7602]

The one thing that I thought you would mention didn't get mentioned at all. A haven for nature lovers and wildlife photographers, the Circle B Bar reserve is the place I'm looking forward to visiting the most in Lakeland. You should check it out if you haven't already.

[@davidgeorge7443]

Thanks Chad, keep 'em coming!

[@willbygosh4887]

I've been to the recently opened Bonnet Springs Park,it was awesome,it was built on an abandoned railroad yard and cost $110 million dollars to build financed mostly by the Publix foundation and like the St. Petersburg Pier,there's a free tram to take you around.

[@fivenight]

Just replace love bird with Mr Fish and it'd be perfect lol. Nice list regardless 👏 👏

[@floridaredneck]

I've been in Lakeland for 4 years and not much has changed from my perspective, but we were on pause for 2 years. I wanted to point out that our swans have a reputation here and were a gift from Queen Elizabeth II and there are infrequent auctions where you can actually buy them to cull the population, if you have a good home for them (such as a farm with a lake). There are feeding stations that have quarter slots where you can buy them a snack; do not feed them bread! The lakes are great for exercise or just lounging during lunch on a bench. The Polk Museum has some nice traveling shows; Norman Rockwell being the current one, and I saw a collection of 35 Rodin statues last year, which anywhere in the world would be incredible. Other than those occasions, there isn't much there on a permanent basis. It's easy to see in about 5 minutes, unless there is an exhibition. Only the first floor is open, the top floors are offices. It looks way bigger from the outside. The Antique Mall is a great place to visit and looks way bigger inside than outside. I often stop in if I'm just passing by on Hwy 98 or going to Lowe's (next door). You can spend hours in there, unlike the museum. The Disney part of the store is diverse, but most of it is affordable. The rare or high-priced objects you see in the video are a minority; you can get hundreds of things for a few dollars and $100 gets you something nice. If you just can live without a 20 ft. decorated Christmas tree you may have seen in a movie, then they have it for $400. If you want Snow White's costume, it's $4,750. I bought a side table with a mosaic turtle in the middle for only $65 and if it were in a furniture store, it would sell for $400. It was used in a Disney resort guest suite and came with a picture of it in the room. I also got a cafe chair that is metal, but looks like bamboo to go with it for $35, also with a picture of it where it used to be in the resort dining area. There were multiples of each of these when I got them, but soon they were gone. The rest of the massive building comprises of booths from different sellers, so each is different and while some concentrate on a particular theme, some do not and are a mixed bag of just about anything you can imagine. I never collected yard sticks in my life until I went there. Never cared anything about them, until I went there. I would say if you visit Lakeland, you must not leave without visiting this mall. I didn't know about that Southgate sign, but I did wonder why it was still there. That particular movie it was in was not a favorite, so I remember nothing about it. But, good thing Ace Hardware is in there. I went to Love Bird's once. It wasn't bad, but like I said, once. I went to Silver Moon Drive-In once too. It wasn't bad either, but again, once. The experience is worth doing, but the snack bar closes 15 minutes after the first movie starts and since there's always a double feature, that's not good. I see it nearly every day since I live right next to it. Once you do the things on this list, you really are done. There's not much else to do without leaving town to go strawberry picking in Plant City. Pick me up, I'm on the way! I'm glad you reminded me about The Joinery, I need to visit there, so that will be fun. Thanks for sharing!

[@elenam2167]

Excellent video...now im subscribed! Thank you!! I will take my guests to these places...and the Southgate mall was on ✂️ movie? 🤯 I didn't know that

[@ChadGallivanter]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@helgabullabong]

The Silver Moon drive in looks great fun. So many things to do in Lakeland. Thank you for showing us. Cheers

[@ChadGallivanter]

You bet!

[@yishislassieswaiting4748]

Thank u! My daughter lives thee while I live 1/2 a world away. Really loved seeing an overview!

[@ChadGallivanter]

Our pleasure!

[@darrellkottal]

Lakeland is home to Florida Southern College a Methodist college campus designed by the world-famous Frank Lloyd Wright. A unique and beautiful campus

[@karynrubel8601]

It's astounding you would include restaurants that are very recent additions to the community, such as "The Joinery" and "Lovebird", and not include, instead, the Polk Theatre!!!?? Lovebird and The Joinery have no history, and by the way, Lovebird is no eclusive to Lakeland, yet the Polk Theatre has been here since 1928. One of a handful of operating stmospheric theatres, it is celebrating 95 years in operation, and still showing movies, weekly. Many residents of Polk County saw their first film there. Elvis, famously, performed there. Spending more time researching this community gem, which should be included in any list of "10 things You'll Only Find in Lakeland." A fried chicken restaurant, delicious or not, is simply not in the same league...

[@steveisgood2go]

Beautifully glazed with fried food and Restaraunt chains, you’ll always be able to find a homeless person. Lakeland is the most boring rising city in Florida. Traffic, below average i;come , it seems appealing to buy a house if you can survive the uneducated neighbors or trashy neighborhoods that exist from end to end with spots of wealthiness on its outskirts.